The anniversary gig included partners McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, along with the participation of many Southwest employees from all over the US.

Southwest has long been the dominant domestic air carrier to and from Las Vegas, with nearly 16 million passengers processed in 2011.

Air Alps ceases operations; Spanair ceases operations

Both Austrian-based Air Alps and Barcelona-based Spanair ceased operations due to financial difficulties.

[Air Alps] operated three Dornier 328-100s, on mainly codeshare flights for Alitalia from Rome Fiumicino-Parma and Bolzano as well as Milan Malpensa–Salerno.

A statement on [SpanAir]’s website says it suspended operations on Jan. 28 and advises customers with reservations to contact their credit card company, insurance company or travel agency. “Due to these exceptional circumstances all our flights are canceled,” the statement said.

According to an Information for Operators note issued on 18 January, the FAA found 35 cases of incorrectly submitted instrument flight plans with respect to [reduced vertical separation minimums] operations in the first 15 days of November.

“These events indicate that not only are ‘non-RVSM’ aircraft being filed as RVSM authorized, but also, authorized aircraft unable to conduct RVSM due to equipment malfunctions are being incorrectly filed as RVSM authorized,” the FAA said.

What’s the big idea?

Consumer Traveler is the Internet's longest continuously running travel blog. It was an e-zine before the term blog was coined. It is also the most-read blog among travel stakeholders in Washington, DC.Sign up for our daily newsletter or ourweekly newsletter.